To view game action photos, visit the photo gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Scott Huff
FRANCONIA – Neshaminy head football coach Mark Schmidt was surrounded by reporters moments after his Redskins were ousted from the PIAA District One Quarterfinal game by North Penn, 35-22.
“North Penn can execute,” said Schmidt. “They can flat out execute.”
But which definition of execute?Execute – v – to complete or perform an action or movement, especially one requiring skill.
North Penn (12-0) did plenty of that as the Knights rolled to a 35-7 lead after the first three periods against the Skins (9-3).
And the Knights did it with a tenacious defense that created five costly Redskin turnovers – and an efficient offense that had no turnovers and featured running back Craig Needhammer who crossed the goal line for five rushing touchdowns.
Execute – vt – to put an instruction or plan into effect.
And the Knights did just that as they utilized all of its weapons in an offensive arsenal that has bludgeoned most opponents this season – including Neshaminy. The game plan worked to perfection.
Execute – vt - to put someone or something to death
And North Penn did just that as the Knights figuratively killed the season for Skins and will move on to host Avon Grove next week.
Avon Grove defeated Downingtown West, 35-21, to advance to the District semifinal game against North Penn.
“I was really happy with the way that we played the first three periods,” said North Penn head coach Dick Beck. “I was a little concerned with how we played the fourth period, but it was still a good win.
“Offensively, that was about as well as we have played all season,” added Beck. “It was nice to spread the ball around, and whoever got the ball was fresh and made a play. We have some good athletes making good plays.
“This is a team that won’t be successful unless we do that,” continued Beck. “Unless were are versatile, we could be in trouble against bigger teams.”
“We have so many weapons on offense, and we love to move the ball around,” said North Penn quarterback Todd Smolinsky who was a superlative 13 of 18 passing for 144 yards. “We want as many people as possible to make plays.
“The offensive line was great tonight, and everyone was focused,” added Smolinsky. “We know what we want.”
North Penn got what it wanted on its first defensive series when the Knights forced a Neshaminy punt.
And the Knights got what they wanted on their first offensive series as they marched 70 yards on 13 plays with Needhammer scoring on a 1-yard burst.
The highlight of the drive was a Smolinsky 15-yard pass to Dominic Taggart on fourth-and-four at the Neshaminy 20-yard line.
North Penn – after a Neshaminy penalty – attempted a two-point conversion that failed, and the Knights would settle for a 6-0 lead.
North Penn forced its first Skins turnover – on an interception by TJ Gill – on the ensuing possession.
The Knights pieced together an eight-play scoring drive that culminated with a 3-yard TD bolt by Needhammer. Again the try for a two-point conversion failed, and NP held a 12-0 lead.
Neshaminy put itself back into the game with a 10-play scoring drive that covered 74 yards. Junior quarterback Charlie Marterella – who again split the quarterbacking duties with senior Brian Titus – engineered the drive.
Marterella – who completed a 30-yard pass to Bryan Dean to highlight the drive – capped the march with a pretty 13-yard scoring pass to Ricky Brebner. Ricky Domico added the extra point, and with 4:16 left in the half, Neshaminy was back in the game at 12-7.
But not for long – by the close of the half, North Penn would score nine points and snare a 21-7 halftime lead.
Smolinsky set up Needhammer’s third scoring run with a pair of gorgeous passes – one to Gill for 25 yards – and the other to Ralphie Reeves for 31 yards.
Reeves – who played a terrific game both at tight end and at linebacker – intercepted a Neshaminy pass on the next Redskin possession and returned it to the Skins 30-yard line.
“I just sat back in coverage and read the quarterback’s eyes,” said Reeves. “You want to be aggressive on defense, and you hope to make a play.”
The Reeves’ interception set up a 37-yard field goal by Dylan Harris with just 18 seconds left in the half.
“When Neshaminy scored, we knew that we had to answer back,” said Smolinsky. “We have a lot of pride in scoring after we get scored on. And those scores before the half were big.”
North Penn asserted its dominance at the outset of the second half as the Knights marched to pay dirt on a seven-play drive.
Needhammer slammed in the end zone on a 1-yard blast – and also came up with a pair of highlight plays on the drive. He caught a 14-yard pass out of the backfield, and also ripped off an 18-yard run.
A third North Penn interception – this one by Mike Culbreath – set up still another Needhammer touchdown.
The 9-yard Needhammer touchdown dash was preceded by a 10-yard pass from Smolinsky to Brandon Mercer.
The score became 35-7 with the Harris extra point – and that was to be the end of the scoring for North Penn.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Redskins as they outscored NP 15-0 in the period.
“We put ourselves in a bind against a very good football team,” said Schmidt. “We gave them too many opportunities, and they took advantage of them.
“Sometimes I think they we may have been trying too hard,” added Schmidt. “These are a great group of kids – a special bunch of kids – and they take things personally.”
Neshaminy scored early in the fourth period as Brebner snared a 15-yard TD pass from Titus. Titus found Dean for a two-point conversion to slice the lead to 35-15.
The Redskins scored its final points of the game – and the season – late in the fourth period when Corey Majors darted in from the one-yard line. Domico’s PAT was to make the score final at 35-22.
“I hope that North Penn goes on the win the state title,” said Schmidt. “Then we can at least say that we lost to the best team in the state.”
Neshaminy 0 7 0 15 - 22
North Penn 6 15 14 0 - 35
NP: Needhammer 1 run (run failed) 2:39
NP: Needhammer 3 run (run failed) 10:29
N: Brebner 13 pass from Marterella (Domico kick) 4:16
NP: Needhammer 3 run (run failed) 2:05
NP: Harris 37 FG 0:18
NP: Needhammer 1 run (Harris kick) 8:44
NP: Needhammer 9 run (Harris kick) 6:29
N: Brebner 15 pass from Titus (Dean pass from Titus) 11:03
N: Majors 1 run (Domico kick) 2:25
Neshaminy North Penn
13 First Downs 15
103 Rush Yards 159
190 Pass Yards 144
293 Total Offense 303
1-33 Punts / Avg 3-34
2-10 Pen / Yds 3-30
Neshaminy
Rushing: Bryan Dean 16-54; Corey Majors 9-40 & TD; Stephen Stemme 1-8; Ariel Hoffman 1-1; Brian Titus 1-1; Charlie Marterella 1 (minus 1). Totals 29-103- TD.
Passing: Marterella 8-14-1, 121 yards & TD; Titus 4-12-1, 69 yards & TD; Dean 0-1-1, 0 yards. Totals 12-27-3, 190 yards & 2 TD.
Receiving: Rick Brebner 4-46 & 2 TD; Frank Csaszar 2-58; Dean 2-28; Shane Quinn 1-19; Majors 2-14; Stemme 1-5. Totals 12-190 & 2 TD.
Interceptions: None.
North Penn
Rushing: Craig Needhammer 13-78 & 5 TD; Dominic Taggart 7-39; Brandon Mercer 6-17; Mike Culbreath 4-23; Todd Smolinsky 8-1. Totals 38-159 & 5 TD.
Passing: Smolinsky 13-18-0, 144 yards.
Receiving: TJ Gill 3-45; Ralphie Reeves 2-40; Needhammer 4-27; Taggart 2-18; Mercer 1-10; Gerald Wendowski 1-4. Totals 13-144.
Interceptions: Gill, Reeves, Culbreath.
- Log in to post comments
0
